James Hanson used to talk about becoming a professional footballer while he
stacked shelves and changed the toilet roll at his local Co-op store in
Bradford. But he never believed that he would one day score the goal that
would secure Bradford City a place in the League Cup final at Wembley.

What dreams are made of: James Hanson celebrates Bradford's giantkillingPhoto: ACTION IMAGES

It is not quite a tale of rags to incredible riches – League Two players do not earn great money – but it is a heart-warming story about a young man who never gave up on a dream to play for his hometown club.

“Three years ago I was working in the Co-op, so it’s days like this why you want to be a professional,” Hanson said, who needed a painkilling injection in a broken toe before the second leg of a remarkable semi-final against Aston Villa, which Bradford won 4-3 on aggregate, thanks to his goal at Villa Park. “Thankfully all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off because this has been amazing.

“It just shows if you keep working hard then anything can happen. To score a goal to take us to Wembley is unbelievable.

“I’d thought it might never happen for me as a professional. I was just enjoying playing non-League and scoring goals. You get paid quite good money and I was working as well, it was quite a good lifestyle.

“But you always want to play as high as you can and thankfully Stuart McCall at Bradford gave me a chance and I’ve not looked back.”

Released by Bradford as a youngster, he got a part-time job at the Co-op in Thorpe Garth, while trying to relaunch his career in the non-League game.

That journey began at Eccleshill United in Division One of the Baris Northern Counties League, before he impressed Guiseley of the Blue Square Bet North. Bradford re-signed the striker for £7,500 after he scored 46 goals in 67 games for Guiseley.

“He used to talk about playing football all the time,” said Elise Taylor, a former colleague at the Co-op store he still buys his groceries in. “He was a lovely lad working part-time. He used to change the toilet rolls in the staff toilet, now he is scoring the goals that have taken Bradford to a cup final. It’s a shock to think I was stacking shelves with him a couple of years ago.

“He always talked about being a professional footballer. That was his dream and now he’s living it. Everybody round here is delighted he has made it. His mum and dad still live just round the corner and he still comes in to chat. He hasn’t changed a bit, he’s not in the least bit big-headed. The only problem is he can never get enough tickets for us.”

Hanson struggled to get a run in the first team last season but Bradford’s manager, Phil Parkinson, has since given him a chance and come to rely on the 25 year-old’s selfless work ethic.

“He’s honest and hungry, a real team player,” Parkinson said. “He works so hard in terms of holding the ball up and defending from the front. He probably doesn’t score enough goals for a striker and he knows it, but as he showed against Villa, if you put the ball into the area with enough quality he has the hunger and the ability to get on the end of it.

“I love his enthusiasm and his work ethic. He appreciates everything he’s got now because he had to work so hard to get back into League football.”

Hanson’s ability stood out in non-League football. “We couldn’t understand why Bradford had let him go,” said Adie Towers, Guiseley’s chief executive and club secretary, who has continued to speak to Hanson regularly since his return to Bradford in 2009.

“I was in charge of our academy side and he was playing for Eccleshill. He stood out straight away. We signed him and he was prolific in the two and a bit years he was here.

“There were a few League clubs looking at him, but Bradford were the only ones who made a concrete offer. We sold him for £7,500, which looks like a bargain now, doesn’t it?

“I’m absolutely delighted. It’s so nice to see somebody as nice as him doing well in the game.”